Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts

Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts We are Aotearoa's leading presenter and maker of cutting edge arts experiences

From next Monday 29 July, the Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is back to celebrate contemporary dance in the capit...
25/06/2026

From next Monday 29 July, the Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is back to celebrate contemporary dance in the capital 🪭

For one week this July, the freshest artists from across Aotearoa and beyond are coming to heat things up and push boundaries. Expect performance seasons, artists in residence, free events, parties, debates, and good vibes.

The Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is here to ensure a vibrant future for Pōneke's dance scene, fostering a passionate community around this captivating art form.

See the full festival programme at footnote.org.nz 🔗 for the event line up - tickets on sale now!

📍 29 June - 4 July | The Hannah Playhouse & Footnote Dance Studios

The festival is a joint initiative curated by Footnote New Zealand Dance and presented with The Hannah Playhouse and Toi Aro, supported by Wellington City Council.

Under renowned Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj, and with Organist Michael Stewart, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir prese...
19/06/2026

Under renowned Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj, and with Organist Michael Stewart, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir presents two unforgettable nights of choral brilliance in a programme infused with warmth and radiance everlasting: Eternal Light - Fauré Requiem 🌠 Coming to Wellington for one night only!

At the heart of Eternal Light is Fauré’s Requiem – music of restraint and consolation, with gentle harmonies that hold grief and hope in balance. Erčulj also brings music from her native Slovenia, introducing New Zealand audiences to works by celebrated composers, Andrej Makor and Aldo Kumar, Damijan Močnik, and Lojze Lebič. This is paired with a newly commissioned work; ‘Awatea’ by acclaimed New Zealand composer Rosa Elliott.

Set within the soaring acoustics of two of New Zealand’s most iconic cathedral spaces, this concert invites you to experience the unifying power of the country’s finest voices, resonating in gleaming harmony. Get ready for an evening of timeless peace and resplendence – a celebration of light unending.

Auckland: 26th June, Holy Trinity Cathedral - 7pm
Wellington: 27th June, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul - 7pm

🎫 Book now at voicesnz.com/event/eternal-light-faure-requiem 🔗

09/06/2026

Tickets are selling fast to Macy Gray Live at St James Theatre on Thu 15 Oct! 💫 Get yours before they sell out at jazzfestival.nz/events/macy-gray-live 🎫

Wellington Jazz Festival has just announced the first headliner for their 2026 season: Macy Gray 🎤💫 As part of her lates...
02/06/2026

Wellington Jazz Festival has just announced the first headliner for their 2026 season: Macy Gray 🎤

💫 As part of her latest international tour, GRAMMY Award-winning soul icon Macy Gray will make her long-awaited return to Aotearoa after more than a decade, including a special Wellington Jazz Festival performance on Thursday 15 October at St James Theatre.

Pre-sale on NOW - sign up to Culture Club at cultureclub.raiselysite.com for access 🎫 General sale on from Thursday.

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards took on the Civic stage in Tāmaki Makaurau last night and boy did our kiwi artists delive...
29/05/2026

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards took on the Civic stage in Tāmaki Makaurau last night and boy did our kiwi artists deliver! HUGE congratulations to the following Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts alumni that took home Tūī awards last night 🎉

🏆 Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist - Michael Norris
🏆 Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content - Stella Reid
🏆 Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist - MĀ
🏆 Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist - Tom Scott
🏆 Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group - The Beths

Ka pai, tīma! ⭐

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Jools Topp, one of the legendary Topp Twins 🌿For more than 40 years, Dame...
26/05/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Jools Topp, one of the legendary Topp Twins 🌿

For more than 40 years, Dame Jools Topp brought warmth, humour, music and immense joy to audiences across Aotearoa; while living 22 of those years with extraordinary courage through breast cancer.

The Topp Twins joined the Festival in 2012, performing their music-comedy show at the Festival Club - a fitting reflection of the generosity, wit and connection they shared with audiences throughout their remarkable career.

Our thoughts are with Lynda, their whānau, friends, and the many people whose lives were touched by Dame Jools.
Moe mai rā 🤍

Reminisce on AroVision with their 2009 documentary, 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls': ondemand.arovideo.co.nz/film/the-topp-twins-untouchable-girls/

📸 Jools and Lynda Topp at the 2012 New Zealand International Festival by Robert Catto, Photographer.

ICYMI: The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest returns to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on 11 July at the Michael Fowler Centre for its 70th...
15/05/2026

ICYMI: The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest returns to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on 11 July at the Michael Fowler Centre for its 70th anniversary! 🌟 Secure your seat to see our top rising operatic talent at the 2026 Grand Final Gala NOW 🎫

See the six finalists accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform live for Head Judge, Frederica von Stade in the hopes of being crowned the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest winner.

✨ Join us for a night full of excitement and incredible music and get your tickets at songquest.nz - link in bio 🔗

Follow the journey at Song Quest 👈

It’s with heavy hearts that today we share news of the passing of arts rangatira Carla van Zon ONZM (1952-2026).Much-lov...
30/04/2026

It’s with heavy hearts that today we share news of the passing of arts rangatira Carla van Zon ONZM (1952-2026).

Much-loved and respected by the arts community in Aotearoa and internationally, Carla worked for the New Zealand Festival for 20+ years including as artistic director 2002-2006. A former dancer, Carla championed the arts and artists all her life and in her roles at the Festival, Creative New Zealand and at Auckland Arts Festival, she shared her passion with audiences. She remained a close friend and mentor to our co-directors Tama Waipara and Dolina Wehipeihana, along with other staff and Board members, and she leaves behind a legacy which stretched across the world.

We will be sharing tributes to Carla on our website, festival.nz

Moe mai rā e te tuhi māreikura 🌿

Our preliminary survey results are in and we’re as happy as you are! Thank you to all who attended the 2026 Aotearoa New...
17/04/2026

Our preliminary survey results are in and we’re as happy as you are! Thank you to all who attended the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and made it another incredibly special year 💖

“What a stunning performance. I don’t very often weep at the theatre. Powerful.”; “It was so amazing - mīharo koutou katoa. Really powerful piece of theatre!”; “I thought it was one of the most extraordinary pieces I’ve ever seen. I loved it.”; “What a stunning performance.”; “It’s beautiful, one treasure after another”; “What an absolutely freaking glorious show”.

Your feedback will help us make the 2028 Festival the best it can be! See you then 🎉

📸 Nick George .creative

The AMAs nominations are out and we’re delighted to see a few Festival artists on the list! 🌟Good luck to: ✨ MĀ – Blame ...
17/04/2026

The AMAs nominations are out and we’re delighted to see a few Festival artists on the list! 🌟Good luck to:

✨ MĀ – Blame It On The Weather (Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year) | (Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist)
✨ Rob Ruha, Troy Kingi, Kaylee Bell – Matariki Hunga Nui (Mana Reo)
✨ Michael Norris – Rerenga (Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist) (SoundCathedral photo)
✨ Stella Reid – Scared Old Men (Dick Move) (Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content)
✨ Nadia Reid – Enter Now Brightness (Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist)
✨ The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie (Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year) | Metal (Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year) | Straight Line Was A Lie (Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group)

Tune into the winner’s announcements livestream on Thursday 28 May via RNZ.

📸 Nick George. Stella Reid/Werewolf photo taken by Mouce Young. Nadia Reid photo taken by Matt Grace.

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